Genius Loci

In classical Roman religion, a

genius is the divine nature that is present in every individual person, place, or thing. The genius loci  is interpreted as the spirit of the place.

 

The 18th century English poet

Alexander Pope made the genius loci an important principle in landscape design with a verse that began:

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"Consult the genius of the place in all"
 

This verse laid the foundation for one of the fundamental principles of landscape architecture: that design should always be adapted to the context in which it exists.